Lakers' Gasol diagnosed with torn plantar fascia

In the midst of their best stretch of this difficult season with six victories in seven games, the Lakers might not get Gasol back on the court until perhaps the final games of the regular season in March or April. But the Lakers are waiting to issue a timetable until Gasol is examined by Lakers doctors Steve Lombardo and Kenneth Jung on Thursday.

A reasonable estimate for recovery time in general would be six weeks. As surgery is rarely required for a torn plantar fascia, Gasol's season is unlikely to be over. But if it turns out to be, he might have even has played his last game as a Laker considering he is a prime candidate to be traded in the offseason.

Gasol didn't speculate on the extent of his recovery time on Twitter, but noted: "I'm hoping to recover asap so I can be back with the team and keep fighting until the end of the season."

Although Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni's four-on-the-perimeter offensive system has marginalized Gasol from his usual power-forward spot to backup center behind Dwight Howard, the importance of Gasol has been heightened by Howard's shoulder injury that has him out currently and at risk for aggravation at any time.

Gasol, 32, had been bothered by plantar fasciitis in the foot since Christmas and then felt "a pop" when he tried to jump on the weakened tissue along the bottom of his foot Tuesday night in the Lakers' victory at Brooklyn. The glow of the victory was muted by the sight of Gasol on crutches, and Kobe Bryant said afterward: "It feels good to pull out a win like this, but now reality kind of sets in."

Bryant had also said: "We can't afford to lose Pau for a long stretch."

The Lakers' offense has run better with Gasol at center recently while Howard has rested, but the Lakers can turn more to Earl Clark, whose athleticism led to D'Antoni keeping Clark as the starter over Gasol. However, even there the Lakers face a problem: Clark is a free agent as season's end, and the more he does the rest of the season, the less likely the Lakers can re-sign him amid their heavy luxury-tax problems.

Assuming Howard is able to play through his torn labrum, the Lakers would still have Clark, Metta World Peace and Antawn Jamison to play the two forward positions. Given D'Antoni's desire to field small lineups, Bryant would also frequently move up to small forward and open up more playing time for Steve Blake and Jodie Meeks next to point guard Steve Nash.

If Howard struggles to stay on the court -- as he often does simply via foul trouble -- the Lakers would have to go even smaller or use rookie center Robert Sacre to fill minutes as they try to move into the Western Conference playoff picture. Howard has sat out the past three games as he waits for the pain to decrease in his shoulder.

The Lakers also hold an injury exemption from the NBA because of Jordan Hill's season-ending hip surgery to acquire a player via trade or free agency at the annual salary of about $1.8 million.

If Howard re-signs with the Lakers after the season, the Lakers will look to trade Gasol, who will be due $19.3 million in the final year of his contract. Although Gasol's arrival from Memphis in 2008 lifted the Lakers to three consecutive NBA Finals, two resulting in titles, he has had hard times recently with a multitude of trade possibilities and then this season knee tendinitis and a concussion besides his diminished role and the foot pain.

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